Nebraska Jobless Rate Again Lowest In Nation And Lowest In State History

      Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point in August to 2.2%, the lowest since data collection began in 1976. The 2.2% is 1.8-points lower than a year ago and less than half the national rate of 5.2%.

     The rates for both Lincoln and Grand Island dipped below 2%. Lincoln’s 1.7% is 2-10ths of a point under July and 2.2-points lower than a year ago while Grand Island’s 1.9% is also 2-10ths better than July but 2.9-points below last August.

      Omaha came in at 2.3%, falling 3-10ths of a point from July and 2.2-points from a year ago. The Scottsbluff Micropolitan Statistical Area posted a 2.1% rate in August for a monthly improvement of 4-10ths of a point and a 1.6-point drop from a year ago.

      The state unemployment rate is adjusted for seasonal factors while the local rates are not, making comparisons between the two meaningless.

        State Labor Commissioner John Albin says the number of unemployed individuals is the lowest since 1998 at 22,364 with the total dropping for the past 14 months.

        Total nonfarm employment in August reached just over 1-million-19 thousand – adding 4,896 workers from July and 33,460 from a year ago.

       The private industry sectors with the most job growth from July to August were Education and Health with 1,672 more jobs; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities up 1,334; and Professional and Business Services up 1,173.

      The most growth since last August were Leisure and Hospitality plus 7,638; Education and Health 7,236; and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities up 6,460.